Violin-case



-(No Model.)

J. W. HARLOW.

f I VIOLIN CASE. No. 261,450. Patented July 18, 1882.

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v UNITED STATES PATENT. QFFICE.-

JOSEPH W. HARLOW, or PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

'VIOLlN-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 261,450, dated July 18, 1 882. A Application filed June 1, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH W. HARLoW,a

citizen oftlie United States, residing at Ports. mouth, Bockingham county, New Hampshire,

have invented new and useful Improvements in Violin-Gases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its objects to provide a novel construction of cases for violins, wherein the same will be effectually protected from water, moisture, dust, and the external atmosphere to provide a structure which is capable of resisting blows and unusual strains,

thereby avoiding liability of being crushed, and which in every respect is stronger and more substantial than violin-cases asheretofore constructed; to provide novel means for locking the cover or lid of the case, and to furnish novel and desirable means for carrying the same. These objects I accomplish by the .my improved violin-case with the lid or cover closed; Fig. 2,2, similar view with the lid or cover in an open position. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central sectional view, and Fig. 4 is a detached view of the locking device for the lid or cover.

The case may be of the usual configuration or outline suitable to receive and retain the violin, and is entirely closed throughout its major portion, in the present instance being composed oflan enlarged body portion, 1, and a contracted rectilinear neck, 2.

The transverse open end of the body portion or caseis provided with a lid or cover, 3, hinged to one side of the case, and is recessed to receive the projecting end of the bodyof the violin when the latter is inserted endwise into the case.

The body portionand the lid orcover at their upper sides are arched, as at 4, to accommodategthe bridged part of the instrument.

The edges of the transverse open end of the case is provided with a metallic strip, 5, se-

cured in position by screws or otherwise, and the corresponding edge of the lid or cover 3 is provided with a strip, 6, of india-rubberor other suitable packing material, which will provide a perfectly-tight joint when the adja thumb-nut, 8, and a slotted catch, 9, secured to the side of the lid or cover and adapted to pass over the thu'mhmut, after which the latter'can be screwed up against the slotted catch and the lid or cover be confined in a closed position, with its packing 6 tightly against the strip 5 on the case, thereby providing a heru'ietically-sealed joint, which will effectually exclude water, moisture, dust, and the external atmosphere fromthe interior of the case, thereby avoiding injury to the violin from these sources.

To provide eflicient means for carrying the case, I provide a loop-shaped strap, 10, one end of which is secured to the case, as at 13, while the other portion of the strap extends longitudinally along thetop wall of the neck 2 of the case, and is adapted to slide thereon through a retaining-plate, 12, at the end of the neck 2. When the looped strap is drawn out, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, it affords convenient means for suspending the case from the shoulder of the person, thereby leaving both hands free, which is of considerable' convenience in passing through crowds and in carrying packages, an umbrella, or other article. When the looped strap is pushed inward, as represented in full lines, it will be entirely out of the way, and can be retained in such position by a suitable catch, 14. I preferto arrange the sliding portion of the strap 10 in a longitudinal groove, 11, in the topwall' of V the case, for the purpose of bringing-the strap flush with the same and for guiding it in its sliding movements.

A strap, 15, is secured at its ends to one edge of the case to provide for carrying the same in the hand.

Theinner side of the bottom wall of the body portion 1 is provided with longitudinallyarranged bowed springs 16, suitably attached in place, which serve to retain the violin in proper position and prevent play or loose vertical movements of the same, which often result in injury to the instrument.

The interior of the end wall of the lid or cover is also provided with a similar transversely-arran ged bowed sprin g,17, which serves to prevent free longitudinal play ot'the instrument when the case is closed.

In violin-cases as heretofore constructed the receptacle for the extrastrings and the rosin is arranged within the case, and hence to gain access to such articles it is necessary to raise the lid of the case, and thereby expose the interior of the same. To avoid this 1 provide the exterior of the case with a receptacle or pocket, 18, which is covered by a lid secured in a closed position by a suitable catch. This receptacle or pocket is preferably provided in the bottom wall of the neck 2, and it affords means for containing the extra strings and rosin, which are thus accessible without the necessity of opening and thereby exposing the interior of the case.

To release the slotted catch of the lid or cover, and thereby permit the latter to be swung open, the thumb-nut 8 is loosened and the threaded extension is sprung laterally away front the slotted catch 9, this being rendered possible by reason of the flat spring 7. To lock the spring 7 in place, and thereby prevent it from being sprung laterally to disengage the slotted catch 9, I provide the lower front edge of the spring with an eye, 19, and I also pr0videalock,20, with asliding bolt, 21, so that when the bolt is thrown it will engage the eye of the spring, and thereby lock the latter in position.

What I claim is- 1. The combination ofthe body portion having a transverse open end, a recessed end hinged to one edge of said open end, a packopen end and provided with a slotted catch,

a packing to form a sealed joint between the parts, a spring having a threaded extension, and a nut on the latter, substantially as described.

4. A violin-case composed of a body portion provided with atransverse open end and a longitudinal bowed spring or springs, in combination with the recessed hinged lid or cover, provided on the interior of its end wall with a bowed spring, substantially as described.

5. The combination, in a violin-case, of the body portion provided with a transverse end and an arched top wall, the recessed lid or cover, hinged to one edge of said end and provided with an arched top, and a device for locking the lid or cover against the outer end ofthe body portion, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH W. HARLOW.

Witnesses:

A. F. HOWARD, E. G. PIERCE, Jr. 

